5 reasons to pursue a career in Cloud Computing

Currently the hottest trend in innovative, competitive, and cost-effective technology, cloud computing has taken the Australian business landscape by storm – with our expenses expected to outpace global spending by the end of 2020.

Such services have succeeded in offering companies with a safer, more accessible, and highly scalable way to store and manage data. However, while demand remains at an all-time high, our available talents are few and far between.

The industry is thus teeming with career opportunity, with plenty of high-paying roles and pathways to certification. We explore these and more below, as we discuss the five major reasons to pursue a stable, lucrative career in the world of cloud computing.

There’s incredible demand

Cloud computing has rapidly grown into a business mainstay, with 42% of Australian companies now paying for the service – compared to 31% in 2015-2016. Demand continues to be seen across the globe, with overall market size expected reach a worth of $62.3.3 billion USD by 2023.

With its technology entering the mainstream, those with the right skills and expertise are now sought-after businesses who seek to optimise the field for further opportunity. In a study by the job-search site, Indeed, it was found that searches for cloud computing roles rose to a near 108% in the last three years. Likewise, employer interest in the appropriate candidates experienced a notable surge, leaping by 33% in the same timeframe.

Skills demand is only set to grow alongside increasing adoption of cloud computing services. More businesses are recognising the expansive benefits of multi-cloud or hybrid cloud platforms, with Gartner predicting over 75% of medium and large organisations to have adopted these solutions.

According to Insider Guides, the most in-demand positions currently include cloud engineers, cloud architects, and DevOps engineers.

High salary potential

According to the latest reports, those pursuing cloud engineering roles can potentially tap into six-figure salary opportunities, as businesses continue to use cloud infrastructure funded by American tech companies.

Six-figure incomes have become an increasingly standard rate among cloud engineers in Sydney and Melbourne, with senior-level roles looking at a close average of $160,000 per year. Demand for such talents have skyrocketed due to its platform-specific skills and the mobility of most engineering professionals.

Popular cloud platforms include Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with Amazon Web Services (AWS) taking the lead. The rising popularity of AWS may lead to slightly lower salary potential, with higher incomes potentially found in GCP-related roles due to creeping service demand among businesses.

Though small to medium businesses may struggle to offer such high salary rates, financial institutions have been found to provide such generous pay. The field is currently experiencing a significant lack in cloud computing skills, coupled with a growing desire to “modernise” their IT structures. In an effort to innovate, the sector has now spurred a movement to optimise and re-direct their tech investments.

Furthermore, Payscale statistics display an average pay of $132,714 per year for those with cloud computing skills. Alongside engineers, architects and consultants are among the highest-earners.

Varied specialisations

Due to rapid developments, the cloud industry offers a wide range of career opportunities for those of varying skills and interests.

Those pursuing the field can choose from a generous selection of specialty fields, including programming, business management, data science, and database management. Much of the skills and knowledge you build are transferable across roles, giving you choice across a variety of positions and specialisations.

Some positions may incorporate plenty of cloud computing expertise – though may not necessarily have “cloud” in their title. Computer network professionals, for example, may work directly with cloud providers in building the appropriate systems and infrastructure. Programmers and software developers may rely on the cloud to deploy applications, and database administrators may simply rely on cloud technologies to execute their tasks.

One may even leverage their soft skills for more business-focused roles in the cloud computing, such as the role of a manager, salesperson, or marketer. These leadership positions require individuals with strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills – along with a sound grasp of cloud fundamentals.

The best part is, cloud computing skills aren’t exclusive to the tech industry. The expertise is in-demand across various, non-IT-specific fields, including banking, the automotive industry, and in government jobs.

Wide range of training options

Those looking to pursue a career in the cloud have a wide selection of both online and on-site training options to choose from.

Curious individuals can start off with the many free training videos and short courses available. Leading cloud service providers such as GCP and AWS currently offer free starter courses on cloud computing basics; such as AWS’ entry-level course on machine learning, and GCP’s course on Industrial IoT in the cloud. Such content can be found on their official websites or online course archives such as Coursera.

Once you’re ready to pursue further, professional training, plenty of nationally-recognised programs are available to start building your skills in the field. Lumify Learn, for example, currently offers a “Cloud Computing Certified Professional” course, equipping students with the fundamental skills to start pursuing certifications or entry-level roles.

Getting certified is highly recommended to improve your job market advantage, as this verifies your skills and experience to prospective employers. According to CIO, the most sought-after certifications currently include: Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, CompTIA Cloud+, Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), and Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Improves your industry credibility

Finally, pursuing skills in cloud computing can boost your industry credibility, as the business landscape continues to seek and value those with the latest tech skills and expertise.

As mentioned, the cloud computing industry is expecting further growth in the following years, with its technology set to become the “new normal”. With increasingly high demand and little talent to go around, having the right skills demonstrate your drive, relevance, and competitive edge as an IT professional.

This is all the more true with the right certifications, as they not only validate your expertise in the field – but your commitment to the high industry standards, professionalism, and the latest in-demand skills.

Additionally, our increasing adoption of remote work practices have bolstered our need for cloud computing, offering cloud experts more career opportunities and job security than ever.

It’s an industry many have yet to enter – so with the right expertise, you’re bound to stand out in all the best ways possible.

Set on a cloud computing career?

Bursting with career opportunities, the cloud computing industry offers plenty of educational options for those looking to explore the field.

As mentioned, Lumify Learn currently offers a comprehensive Cloud Computing Certified Professional course for those seeking a robust, thorough training experience in all fundamental cloud skills and concepts. All materials are delivered completely online, helping you tailor your studies around personal needs and schedule.

Start your journey in the world of cloud computing, and enquire with us today!